Shadows of Old

Chapter 3

The following day, I showed Muriel more sights around the forest. I showed him a scenic cliff sight where I frequently stacked cairns, my favorite hiking trail, and my usual area for meditation. And we stopped back at the pool of starlight once more for a swim to cool off.

When we made it back to the house at the end of the day, we were tired. I had almost forgotten about the question I had asked Muriel yesterday.

"What was it you wanted help with? You never elaborated yesterday." He asked as I was at the stove making dinner.

I froze for a moment. Muriel placed a gentle hand on my lower back and rubbed it up and down my spine.

"Daphne, are you alright?" He questioned.

I nodded tersely.

I rested the spoon against the side of the pot and turned around to face him.

"I know I've said it a couple of times over the past few days, but I need to remember." He nodded. "I've tried this ritual a few times, but it requires another person. My magic alone isn't enough."

He leaned against the edge of the table and looked at me lovingly.

"Of course, I'll help you," he said. "But are you sure you're ready to? You shouldn't push yourself if you're not ready."

I clenched my hands tightly, wringing them slightly. "It's been three years of trying to remember and I don't think I'll ever be fully ready to remember what I will. It's going to be difficult regardless."

Muriel nodded in agreement.

I stared down at the ground and felt him grab my hands, squeezing them tightly. I had been shaking apparently. And a large arm had wrapped around my back. I looked up to see his eyes staring back at me worriedly.

He lifted a hand to push back a piece of hair from my face.

"I'm not going to let anything bad happen to you."

. . . . .

It was later in the evening now. We had eaten dinner and talked about how the spell would be performed. And now I wandered around my home collecting the pieces needed for the spell.

Candles, crystals, herbs, and spices.

Muriel was making the special tea that I had asked him to prepare. It was a requirement for the spell to drink it half an hour before for anyone participating in the spell.

I had attempted this spell several times in the past unsuccessfully, mainly because it required a second person to be present. I figured I could modify it so I could do it myself, but it was no use. This was one part I couldn't twist to fit my method.

This spell wouldn't just reveal pleasant memories, it would reveal every bad memory I had experienced the most. The smaller memories with less emotional charge would be revealed rather easily and float through in a matter of moments, but memories with higher emotional charge would take precedence and keep me locked for much longer. I presumed that was a reason why Muriel was so concerned about this spell.

I didn't want to relive any bad memories, but I needed to remember everything, regardless of how painful.

The tea finished steeping and Muriel poured it into cups. He walked over to the sitting area.

I was pacing back and forth nervously. Muriel cleared his throat gently and I looked over to them, noticing the tea on the coffee table. I gave a weak smile and sat down in an armchair.

I took the cup he handed me and began drinking it slowly. We sat in silence as we drank, Muriel now looking through the spell to make sure he had memorized every detail.